Rhododendron plant named &#39;WHA01&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Rhododendron  cultivar named ‘WHA01’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive full double pink flowers. Plants are upright and vigorous. Plants bloom Spring, Summer and Fall and exhibit good tolerance to environmental stressors. The new cultivar is a  Rhododendron , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Rhododendron hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘WHA01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of chance discovery by the inventor, Winfred Harrell. This new variety, hereinafter referred to as ‘WHA01’, was discovered as a single branch, naturally occurring mutation of Rhododendron ‘White Ruffle’ unpatented. The new variety was selected by the inventor during 2012 at a commercial nursery in Plant City, Fla.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor first propagated the new variety by softwood cuttings at the same commercial nursery in Plant City, Fla. The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. At least three generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘WHA01’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘WHA01’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘WHA01’ as a new and distinct Rhododendron cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique Spring, Summer, and Fall blooming, plants re-blooming         throughout these seasons.     -   2. Fully double flowers, with many interior petals.     -   3. Self-Cleaning flowers     -   4. Strong plant, tolerant of a variety of environmental         stressors.     -   5. Plants very well suited for landscape use, including hedge         planting or as a specimen.     -   7. Observed hardy to Zone 7 and potentially Zone 6.     -   8. Large foliage.     -   9. Bright pink flower color.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

‘WHA01’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the parent Rhododendron hybrida ‘White Ruffle. Plants of the new cultivar ‘WHA01’ however differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a red-purple flower, the parent has a         white flower.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘WHA01’ can be compared to the commercial variety Rhododendron hybrida ‘RLH1-2P8’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,477. Plants of the new cultivar ‘WHA01’ are similar to plants of ‘RLH1-2P8’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘WHA01’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety grow taller than plants of this         comparator.     -   2. Plants of ‘WHA01’ grow more vigorously than plants of this         comparator.     -   3. Foliage of ‘WHA01’ is larger than foliage of this comparator.     -   4. Plants of the new variety have a more upright form, compared         to the globose form of this comparator.

‘WHA01’ can be compared to the commercial variety Rhododendron hybrida ‘Roblec’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,339. Plants of the new cultivar ‘WHA01’ are similar to plants of ‘Roblec’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘WHA01’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. ‘WHA01’ has flowers colored near Red-Purple 57D; flowers of         ‘Roblec’ are colored near Red-Purple 73B.     -   2. Plants of ‘WHA01’ grow more vigorously than plants of         ‘Roblec’.     -   3. Foliage of ‘WHA01’ is larger than foliage of ‘Roblec’.     -   4. Plants of ‘WHA01’ are more upright in habit than plants of         ‘Roblec’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a 2 year old plant of the new variety in a 5 gallon pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical flower of the new variety. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘WHA01’ plants grown outdoors in Loxley, Ala. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3 gallon nursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrida ‘WHA01’. -   Propagation: Typically by semi-hardwood cuttings in Spring and     Summer.     -   -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous young roots, well branched.             Colored near RHS Grey-Brown 199A. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright evergreen shrub.         -   Height.—Approximately 75 cm to top of foliar and flowering             plane.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 85 cm.         -   Branching characteristics.—Well branched, approximately 3 to             6 primary branches from the center of the plant. Branches             occur at approximately 15° to 45° angles. Each primary             branch has 4 to 8 lateral branches.         -   Primary branches.—.         -   Length of primary branches.—Average range 15 to 30 cm.         -   Diameter of primary branches.—Approximately 1.01 cm.         -   Primary branch strength.—Very strong, difficult to break.         -   Primary branch color.—Near Greyed-Orange 177A, streaked             Greyed-Green 197B.         -   Primary branch texture.—Scaly, rough.         -   Lateral branches.—.         -   Number of lateral branches.—Approximately 4 to 8 per primary             branch.         -   Length of lateral branches.—Average range 12 to 30 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Average 0.4 to 0.7 cm.         -   Lateral branch strength.—Very strong, flexible.         -   Lateral branch color.—New growth near RHS Yellow-Green 144B;             oldest branches become woody, colored near Greyed-Orange             177A.         -   Lateral branch texture.—Immature growth hirsute. Older             growth scaly, hirsute.         -   Internode length.—Average range 2.5 to 4.0 cm.         -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 years. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Type: Simple Arrangement: Sub-opposite. Average             Length: Average range 4.2 to 6.8 cm. Average Width: Average             range 2.2 to 2.7 cm. Shape of blade: Obovate. Apex:             Mucronate. Base: Broad attenuate. Attachment: Stalked             Margin: Entire. Cilliate. Texture of top surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Hairs appressed. Texture of bottom surface:             Sparsely pubescent. Denser and longer hairs present along             main vein and margin. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near             RHS Green 137A Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138A             Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 139A Mature             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green N144A Venation color under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 0.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.2 cm Color:             Upper Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C Lower Surface:             Near RHS Yellow-Green N144B. -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Plants begin flowering in the Spring, and             continue to produce flowers throughout Summer and Fall in             the Southern United States.         -   Flower.—Arrangement: Axillary clusters of perfect, double             funnel shaped individual flowers. Typically 3 to 5 flowers             per cluster.         -   Inflorescence.—Height: Average 9.0 cm. Diameter: Average             10.0 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Not present, inflorescence pedicels emerge             directly from node.         -   Pedicel.—Length: Average 0.7 cm to 1.7 cm. Diameter: 0.4 cm.             Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A Texture: Densely             pubescent. Long, soft hairs colored near Greyed-Red 180D             Aspect: Straight. Angle of attachment, approximately 45°             angle from stem. Strength: Very sturdy and flexible.         -   Flowers.—Length: Average 3.9 cm. Diameter: Average 8.0 cm.             Facing direction: Outwardly and upwardly facing. Persistent             or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning Fragrance: Faint sweet smell             Tube: Tube length: Approximately 1.0 cm Tube width a widest             point: Approximately 1.0 cm Tube width and narrowest point:             Approximately 0.8 cm Petals: Unfused petal segments: Length:             Approximately 3.5 cm. Width: Approximately 2.8 cm Apex:             Typically acute. Outermost ring of petals can be mucronate.             Shape of petal: Unfused portion, obovate. Petal margin:             Entire, ruffled. Petal Arrangement: Overlapping, bilateral             symmetry dissecting bottom petal. Petals fused approximately             ¼ distance from base. Petal Number: average 15 to 20 full             petals. 5 to 10 irregularly shaped and sized petaloids             mainly in center of flower. Petal Texture: Smooth, ridged             Petal appearance: Slightly shiny/irredescent.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS Red-Purple             N57D, basal dots near 63A. Very fine margin coloration near             63A. Under surface at first opening: Near RHS Red-Purple             N57D, faint streaks near 63A. Very fine margin coloration             near 63A. Inner surface at maturity: Near RHS Red-Purple             N57D, basal dots near 63A. Very fine margin coloration near             63A. Outer surface at maturity: Near RHS Red-Purple N57D,             faint streaks near 63A. Very fine margin coloration near             63A. Upper surface at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple N57D,             faint streaks near 63C. Very fine margin coloration near             63A. Under surface at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple N57D,             faint streaks near 63D. Very fine margin coloration near             63A.         -   Bud.—Shape: Elliptic Length: 2.9 cm Diameter: 1.7 cm Color:             Near RHS Red-Purple N57D.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Sepals self-cleaning before flower is fully             open. Quantity per flower: 5 sepals Shape: Narrow deltate             Length: 2.0 cm Width: 1.0 cm Apex: Acute Base: Fused Margin:             Entire Texture: Exterior surface pubescent, interior surface             glabrous. Color: Interior Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green             151D, base flushed near Red 53A. Apex Green 137A Outer             Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 151C, base and significant             streaks throughout colored near Greyed-Purple 187B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 1 or 2 full stamens, 1 or 2 undeveloped             stamenoidal structures present. Stamen Length: 1.5 cm Width:             0.1 cm Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 62A Anthers: Length:             Approximately 0.2 cm Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 72A Pollen:             Not observed.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: Average 4.4 cm Style: Length:             Average 3.4 cm Color: Near RHS Red-Purple N57C Stigma:             Globular, colored near Red-Purple N66A Ovary: Sericeous             texture. Approximately 0.3 cm in diameter, 1.0 cm long.             Colored near Red 55D. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Disease and pest resistance.—Not observed to be susceptible             nor resistant to normal diseases and pests of Rhododendron.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Observed hardy to USDA Zone 7,             potentially hardy to zone 6.         -   Fruit/seed production.—Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘WHA01’ as herein illustrated and described. 